DEREK KERRIGAN SENTENCED IN MONAGHAN FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF TEENAGE GIRL

In April 2013, a man from Monaghan was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing his former partner’s teenage daughter. Derek Stephen Kerrigan, aged 49 and residing on Glaslough Street in Monaghan, pleaded guilty to six counts of rape, three counts of indecent assault, and one count of sexual assault committed against Suzan Baker at the Mullaghmatt Villas home where he lived with her mother between 1989 and 1991.

Suzan Baker, who waived her right to anonymity to allow Kerrigan to be identified, was between 12 and 14 years old at the time of the offenses.

Kerrigan has one minor previous conviction unrelated to these crimes. He is a former member of the defence forces and is now unemployed.

Mr Justice Paul Carney acknowledged the court's consideration of aggravating factors such as breach of trust, multiple acts, and the seriousness of the offenses, along with the impact on Ms Baker. Conversely, he noted Kerrigan’s guilty plea, lack of relevant convictions, and the delay in bringing the case before the court.

The judge sentenced Kerrigan to a 10-year term, suspending the final two and a half years, and backdated the sentence to November 2012 when Kerrigan was taken into custody. Kerrigan was declared a sex offender, placed under 18 months of post-release supervision, and ordered to stay away from Ms Baker permanently.

Following Ms Baker’s report to gardai in February 2012, Kerrigan admitted to the abuse, which had occurred over two years while her mother was away. He initially sexually abused her when she was 12 after calling her into his bedroom to discuss "the facts of life," and the abuse continued until she was 14 and her periods began. Kerrigan told her that no one would believe her if she spoke out.

Kerrigan explained to gardai that he did not understand why he had committed the abuse, suggesting it might have been due to alcohol and "mad notions."

Ms Baker, now 36, provided a victim impact statement expressing how the abuse affected her relationships, including her bond with her mother, since she had struggled to tell her about the abuse at the time. She revealed that as she grew older, she realized her experiences were wrong and linked her subsequent drug use to the trauma. She reflected that her life could have been different if she had not been abused, and she expressed regret over her choices, feeling she was weaker and had a negative outlook as a result.

Brendan Grehan SC, Kerrigan’s defense lawyer, submitted a letter of apology from his client, in which Kerrigan expressed remorse and extended apologies to Ms Baker and her family. Kerrigan stated he took full responsibility and was glad the matter had been disclosed, hoping for closure and believing she could move past it.

The defense highlighted that Kerrigan’s offenses involved no gratuitous violence, he had admitted guilt fully, and a probation report rated him at low risk of re-offending.

Garda Stephanie McDaniel reported, during proceedings, that Kerrigan was arrested and interviewed following Ms Baker’s complaint. She recounted that Kerrigan, while living at Mullaghmatt Villas with Ms Baker, her mother, and brother, called her into his room during the summer of 1989. He explained "the facts of life" and then asked her to remove her trousers, showing her her vagina and attempting to insert his penis, though he was unsuccessful. She was crying, blood was observed in her pants, and she subsequently took a bath.

Kerrigan also made Ms Baker masturbate him, licked her vagina, and tried to coax her into performing oral sex. On other occasions, he sat her on top of him and guided her movements. Kerrigan told her no one would believe her if she revealed the abuse. The misconduct stopped when her periods started, around the time her relationship with her mother ended.

During her March 2012 interview, Kerrigan admitted to the abuse, attributing it to "maybe drink and mad notions."

Garda McDaniel concurred that Kerrigan was remorseful and had accepted responsibility. She noted he was well discharged from the army but had been a heavy drinker during the period of offending. No other charges were filed against him.

Prosecutor Frank Martin BL advised that the Director of Public Prosecutions considered these offenses to be at the lower end of the upper range.

Kerrigan’s health was also discussed, with Grehan mentioning that his client had suffered two heart attacks and feared a third before entering his guilty pleas. Although there was no medical evidence presented in court, Kerrigan’s health issues were requested to be taken into account.